With DEFRA releasing new guidelines on how to care for fish in stores, Simon Strode, Key Account Manager at Tetra UK reveals the key updates you need to be aware of.
With over 4,000 species of fish in trade, their welfare needs to be ensured through a range of practises, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has recently released updated guidance notes advising retailers on the best conditions for selling animals as pets1.
One important area to receive attention is the specifics of water testing in stores. As experts in fishkeeping, we understand the need for regular testing as a way of establishing any harmful substances, such as ammonia and nitrite in the water, which may lead to stress or disease in fish, but there has been confusion over how often and to what extent retailers need to test these.
What you need to know
As outlined in DEFRA’s guidelines, centralised systems and 10% of individually filtered aquariums or vats must be tested weekly with standards complying with those outlined in the table below. What’s more, all tests must be taken from stocked aquariums with results recorded and any action taken to remedy water parameters if results fall outside of the recommended guidelines. To ensure this happens on a regular basis rather than ad-hoc, it is advisable to set up a process which involves all members of your team. This will allow them to become confident with this aspect of maintenance when it comes to speaking with your consumers because they are familiar with the reasons behind water testing.
Source: Water quality minimum standards. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations November 2018: Guidance notes for conditions for selling animals as pets
According to DEFRA, these guidelines need to be adhered to in order to ensure you don’t lose your pet shop license, however there are additional measures you can introduce to allow yourself to be awarded with the higher standard of fish care. This includes testing aquarium waters three times a week as a minimum and keeping all results documented.
The benefits to retailers
Not only will these guidelines ensure all your fish are healthy for sale, minimising loss from disease or stress, but it’s also a great way to ensure staff are confident when it comes to talking to consumers about the ease of fishkeeping and the best products available to test water quality parameters. This will allow you to boost sales through additional purchases while ensuring that your fishkeepers have a successful experience. What’s more, by adhering to the higher standards of fish welfare you will not only be supporting the future of the trade, by helping to safeguard against scrutiny and ensuring fish welfare at all times, but you can also communicate this in store allowing you to build trust with fishkeepers and position yourself as an expert.
MEASURE WATER QUALITY WITH EASE
Measuring and recording water quality is an easy process with Tetra’s 6in1 strips which tests waters reliably in only 60 seconds, capturing key parameters including pH, carbonate hardness (KH), general hardness (GH), Nitrite (NO2-), Nitrate (NO3-) and chlorine (Cl2). These should be used together with Tetra’s Ammonia test kit which is another key water parameter which needs to be monitored. The 6in1 strips can be used in conjunction with Tetra’s FREE Aquatics App which analyses results for you while offering recommendations on next steps should any action be required as well as recording results digitally.
For more information visit www.tetra-fish.com or join in the conversation with Tetra UK on Facebook.
1 The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations November 2018
Guidance notes for conditions for selling animals as pets
